Extensible dressings

Abstract

Described herein are dressings for incision management comprising a dressing layer that comprises: an elastic layer such as a hydrocolloid or foam layer; and an absorbent layer coupled, for example by lamination, to the elastic layer and which comprises: (i) from about 45% to about 90% carboxymethyl cellulose fibers; and (ii) from about 10% to about 55% elastic reinforcing fibers. Though the elastic layer may be substantially elastically deformable under tissue treatment conditions and the absorbent layer may be not elastically deformable under tissue treatment conditions, the coupling together of the elastic layer and the absorbent layer may result in a dressing layer, and advantageously a dressing, that is substantially elastically deformable under tissue treatment conditions. Methods for manufacturing such dressings and of eliminating, minimizing, or reducing edema using such dressings are also described herein.

1 . A method of manufacturing a dressing having an absorbent layer with elastic reinforcing fibers, the method comprising:
 providing an elastic layer having an original length and an absorbent layer comprising (i) from about 45% to about 90% carboxymethyl cellulose fibers and (ii) from about 10% to about 55% reinforcing fibers;   extending the elastic layer to an extended length at least 50% greater than the original length;   before, after, or during the extending step, depositing a layer comprising an adhesive on the elastic layer;   coupling the layer comprising the adhesive to the elastic layer;   coupling the fibers of the absorbent layer to the layer comprising the adhesive to form a composite laminate, so that only a portion of the fibers in the absorbent layer are coupled to the extended elastic layer via the layer comprising the adhesive; and   relaxing the composite laminate to return the elastic layer to its original length, thereby causing bunching in a portion of the fibers in the absorbent layer that are not coupled to the extended elastic layer.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the elastic layer comprises a hydrocolloid or a foam. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the fibers in the absorbent layer coupled to the extended elastic layer are sufficient for the composite laminate, the dressing, or both to exhibit a substantially elastic recovery under tissue treatment conditions. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the layer comprising the adhesive comprises non-gelling fibers, wherein the two coupling steps occur approximately simultaneously when the non-gelling fibers are heated to a temperature of at least about 10° C. below a melting point of the non-gelling fibers for about 1 minute to about 16 hours to establish effective coupling. 
     
     
         5 . A dressing for incision management comprising:
 an elastic layer; and   an absorbent layer coupled to the elastic layer and comprising:
 (i) from about 45% to about 90% carboxymethyl cellulose fibers; and 
 (ii) from about 10% to about 55% elastic reinforcing fibers. 
   
     
     
         6 . The dressing of  claim 5 , wherein the elastic layer comprises a hydrocolloid or a foam, and wherein the dressing a width and a length perpendicular to the width and exhibits a substantially elastic response when exposed to about 10% strain along the length for about 10 minutes. 
     
     
         7 . The dressing of  claim 5 , further comprising a non-adhesive backing layer disposed on the absorbent layer on a surface opposite the elastic layer. 
     
     
         8 . The dressing of  claim 7 , wherein the non-adhesive backing layer comprises a polyurethane. 
     
     
         9 . The dressing of  claim 7 , further comprising a non-adherent layer disposed on the elastic layer on a surface opposite the absorbent layer. 
     
     
         10 . The dressing of  claim 9 , wherein the non-adherent layer is perforated and comprises an ethylene-methacrylate copolymer. 
     
     
         11 . The dressing of  claim 10 , further comprising a wound healing agent in or on the elastic layer, the absorbent layer, the non-adherent layer, if present, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The dressing of  claim 11 , wherein the wound healing agent comprises a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, a steroid, an anti-inflammatory cytokine, an anaesthetic, an antiseptic, an antimicrobial agent, a growth factor, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The dressing of  claim 12 , wherein the growth factor comprises a platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), a fibroblast growth factor (FGF), an epidermal growth factor (EGF), or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The dressing of  claim 12 , wherein the antimicrobial agent comprises silver, a silver salt, a tetracycline, a beta-lactam, a macrolide, an aminoglycoside, a fluoroquinolone, a cellulose ethyl sulfonate, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         15 . The dressing of  claim 14 , further comprising an adherent layer disposed on the elastic layer on a surface opposite the absorbent layer and a release liner disposed on the adherent layer on a surface opposite the elastic layer. 
     
     
         16 . The dressing of  claim 15 , wherein the elastic reinforcing fibers comprise polymers or copolymers of olefins or amides. 
     
     
         17 . The dressing of  claim 16 , wherein the absorbent fibers are laminated to the elastic layer. 
     
     
         18 . The dressing of  claim 17 , wherein a layer of non-gelling fibers is disposed between the absorbent layer and the elastic layer, and wherein the non-gelling fibers are heated to a temperature of at least about 10° C. below a melting point of the non-gelling fibers for about 1 minute to about 16 hours to establish effective lamination. 
     
     
         19 . The dressing of  claim 18 , wherein the non-gelling fibers are deposited as an at least partially inter-connected scrim. 
     
     
         20 . A method of reducing edema for a wound site surrounded by tissue, the method comprising:
 providing a dressing having an elastic layer, and an absorbent layer coupled to the elastic layer and comprising from about 45% to about 90% carboxymethyl cellulose fibers, and from about 10% to about 55% elastic reinforcing fibers; and   positioning the dressing near the wound site and releasably adhering the dressing to the tissue.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the wound site is proximal to a knee joint or an elbow joint. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 sealing the dressing within a sealed space adjacent to the wound site; and   applying a negative pressure to the sealed space.   
     
     
         23 . (canceled)